Gold sputtering target and method for producing the same

ABSTRACT

A gold sputtering target has a gold purity of 99.999% or more. In such a gold sputtering target, an average value of Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, an average crystal grain size is 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and a {110} plane of gold is preferentially oriented to a surface to be sputtered of the gold sputtering target.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/893,135, filed on Jun. 4, 2020 which is continuation of prior International Application No. PCT/JP2018/044584, filed on Dec. 4, 2018 which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2017-234720 filed on Dec. 6, 2017; the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a gold sputtering target and a method for producing the same.

BACKGROUND

A gold (Au) film formed using a gold (Au) sputtering target has excellent chemical stability and electrical characteristics of Au itself and has thus been used in various fields. For example, a quartz oscillator device uses an Au sputtered film as, e.g., an excitation electrode to be formed on both surfaces of a quartz chip. In such a quartz oscillator device, an oscillation frequency is adjusted by the thickness of the Au film and, thus, there is demanded an Au sputtering target allowing an Au film having a uniform thickness distribution to be formed during sputtering.

A sputtering target typically has a circular or rectangular plate shape, which is used for planar magnetron sputtering. In addition, a cylindrical sputtering target is also known. The cylindrical sputtering target is higher in terms of the usage rate of a target material during sputtering than the plate-shaped sputtering target, so that the use of such a cylindrical sputtering target has begun for ceramics materials and then for metal- and alloy-based targets. Further, the use of the cylindrical sputtering target for noble metal targets such as a silver (Ag) target is being studied.

The use of the cylindrical target, as well as the plate-shaped sputtering target, is being studied also for the Au sputtering target for Au film formation. However, it is difficult for conventional Au sputtering targets to achieve high film thickness distribution uniformity required for the Au film used as an electrode of, for example, a quartz oscillator device, irrespective of whether they are of a plate-shaped or cylindrical type. In particular, the cylindrical Au sputtering target has a great difficulty in improving the Au film thickness distribution uniformity in terms of processing accuracy for the cylindrical shape.

The following describes in more detail the quartz oscillator devices. The quartz oscillator devices are used for mobile devices, for example, and are required to be small in size, lightweight, and thin in association with a demand for reduction in size, weight, and thickness of the mobile devices. For example, the package size of the quartz oscillator device has been reduced from 5.0 mm×3.2 mm (5032 size) to 3.2 mm×2.5 mm (3225 size), 2.5 mm×2.0 mm (2520 size), 2.0 mm×1.6 mm (2016 size), and 1.6 mm×1.2 mm (1612 size) and, correspondingly, a quartz oscillator (quartz chip) itself is being miniaturized.

The quartz oscillator device has the Au film on both surfaces of a quartz chip (blank) as an electrode, as described above. The quartz chip has an outer shape with rounded corners, which can be obtained by etching or by mechanical treatment after press punching, so as to bring the center of gravity close to the center for frequency stabilization. When the quartz chip has a rough surface, the frequency characteristics thereof is deteriorated, so that the quartz chip is required to have a surface with high smoothness. Similarly, an electrode to be formed in the quartz chip is required to have high smoothness, i.e., to be small in film thickness variation. The electrode has a three-dimensional structure having a given thickness, so that, in a miniaturized quartz chip, the film thickness variation has a greater influence on the three-dimensional structure. Thus, in order to respond to the miniaturization of the quartz oscillator device and the like, the film thickness variation of the Au film used as the electrode is required to be smaller.

In a 32 kHz quartz oscillator for a timepiece, a variation in the mass of the Au film has a great influence on the frequency characteristics. The 32 kHz quartz oscillator includes a fork type and a tuning fork type in terms of shape. The tuning fork type quartz oscillator is suitable for miniaturization; however, the mass variation of the Au film affects the frequency characteristics, so that a reduction in the mass variation derived from the Au film thickness variation is strongly required. The tuning fork type quartz oscillator has a difficulty in frequency adjustment, and thus various modifications have been made to cope with the drawback. For example, as for the formation method of the Au film, sputtering is now replacing vapor deposition. Further, a part of the Au film formed by sputtering is removed by laser beam for mass adjustment, or a weight for mass adjustment is formed during formation of the Au film by sputtering.

In such a situation, when the mass variation derived from the Au film thickness variation can be reduced, the time and trouble required for frequency adjustment can be significantly reduced. In particular, the influence of the film thickness variation becomes greater as the quartz oscillator is reduced in size, with the result that the mass is likely to vary. Also in this respect, the film thickness variation of the Au sputter film is required to be reduced. Further, a higher-purity Au film may be required depending on the use purpose of the Au film. For example, when an Au film having an Au purity of 99.999% or more is formed by sputtering, a sputtering target having an Au purity of 99.999% or more is used; in such a case, the Au film thickness is likely to vary. Thus, the film thickness variation of the Au sputter film is required to be reduced when a higher-purity Au sputtering target is used.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to provide a gold sputtering target allowing improvement in uniformity of the film thickness distribution of a high-purity Au film and a method for producing such a gold sputtering target.

A gold sputtering target according to the present invention has a gold purity of 99.999% or more, wherein, an average value of Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, an average value of crystal grain size is 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and a {110} plane of gold is preferentially oriented to a surface to be sputtered of the gold sputtering target.

A production method for a gold sputtering target according to the present invention includes: producing a gold sputtering target having a gold purity of 99.999% or more, in which an average value of Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, an average value of crystal grain size is 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and a {110} plane of gold is preferentially oriented to a surface to be sputtered of the gold sputtering target.

Effect

By performing sputtering film formation using the thus configured gold sputtering target, a high-purity gold film excellent in uniformity of a film thickness distribution can be obtained with good reproducibility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment for practicing the present invention will be described. A sputtering target according to the embodiment is made of gold (Au) and inevitable impurities. The purity of Au in the sputtering target is set to 99.999% or more. The use of the sputtering target having an Au purity of 99.999% or more allows a high-purity Au film to be obtained. The inevitable impurities (elements other than Au) contained in the Au sputtering target are not limited to particular elements as long as the above-described Au purity is achieved. The upper limit of the Au purity in the Au sputtering target, which is also not limited to a particular value and is set according to a purity required for an Au sputtered film to be formed, is typically 99.9999% or less considering, for example, the production process and production cost of the Au sputtering target, and practically preferably 99.9990% or more and 99.9998% or less.

The shape of the Au sputtering target according to the embodiment is not limited to a particular shape and may be a plate shape or a cylindrical shape. The plate-shaped sputtering target typically includes, for example, a polygonal (e.g., circular or rectangular) plate-shaped sputtering target. Such a polygonal plate-shaped sputtering target may have any structure; for example, it may have a hollow portion formed by removing a part of the circular plate or polygonal plate, or may have a slope, a convex portion, or a concave portion in a part of the surface of the circular plate or polygonal plate. Similarly, the cylindrical sputtering target is not limited to a particular dimension, and the dimension thereof is selected according to a sputtering apparatus. A typical cylindrical sputtering target has an outer diameter of 50 mm or more and 170 mm or less, an inner diameter of 20 mm or more and 140 mm or less, and a length of 100 mm or more and 3000 mm or less, for example. Such an Au sputtering target has a surface to be sputtered (sputtering surface). The plate surface serves as the sputtering surface in the plate-shaped sputtering target, and the surface of the cylinder (cylindrical surface) serves as the sputtering surface in the cylindrical sputtering target.

The Au sputtering target according to the embodiment preferably has a Vickers hardness of 20 or more and less than 40. When an Au spluttering target having a purity of 99.999% or more and having the above Vickers hardness is used to perform sputtering, a high-purity Au film excellent in uniformity of a thickness distribution can be formed. That is, a 40 HV or more Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target means that strain generated during production remains in the Au sputtering target having an Au purity of 99.999% or more. In such a case, particles ejected from the target fly non-uniformly during sputtering, deteriorating uniformity of the film thickness distribution. The Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target is preferably 35 HV or less and yet more preferably 30 HV or less. On the other hand, when the Vickers hardness is less than 20 HV, production of the Au sputtering target itself becomes difficult. In addition, crystal orientation may collapse in association with occurrence of crystal grain growth, which would deteriorate uniformity of the film thickness distribution. The Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target is preferably 23 HV or more and yet more preferably 26 HV or more.

The Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target is measured as follows. In the case of the plate-shaped sputtering target, the following nine measurement points are set: three points set at 10 mm intervals on a straight line in a surface to be sputtered (sputtering surface), three points selected respectively from three segmented areas obtained by dividing, into three, a first cross section perpendicular to the sputtering surface in the thickness direction (in the following Examples, three points set at 1.5 mm intervals on a straight line extending in the thickness direction of a sample having a 5 mm thickness), and three points selected respectively from three areas obtained by dividing, into three, a second cross section perpendicular to the sputtering surface and the first cross section in the thickness direction (in the following Examples, three points set at 1.5 mm intervals on a straight line extending in the thickness direction of a sample having a 5 mm thickness). Then, the Vickers hardness is measured at the above nine measurement points with a 200 gf test force (pressing load). An average value (HV_(av1)) of the Vickers hardness in the sputtering surface, an average value (HV_(av2)) of the Vickers hardness in the first cross section, and an average value (HV_(av3)) of the Vickers hardness in the second cross section are determined. The average values (HV_(av1), HV_(av2), and HV_(av3)) in the sputtering surface, first cross section, and second cross section are further averaged, and the obtained average value is defined as an average value (HV_(tav)) of the Vickers hardness of the entire plate-shaped Au sputtering target.

In the plate-shaped Au sputtering target, the ratio (HV_(av1)/HV_(tav)) of the average value (HV_(av1)) of the Vickers hardness in the sputtering surface to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target, the ratio (HV_(av2)/HV_(tav)) of the average value (HV_(av2)) of the Vickers hardness in the first cross section to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target, and the ratio (HV_(av3)/HV_(tav)) of the average value (HV_(av3)) of the Vickers hardness in the second cross section to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target each preferably fall within the range of 0.8 to 1.2. That is, a variation in the Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target is preferably within ±20%. By thus reducing the location-dependent variation in the Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target, the flying direction of particles during sputtering is made uniform, which improves the uniformity of the film thickness distribution.

In the case of the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the following nine measurement points are set: three points set at 10 mm intervals on a first straight line extending parallel to the cylindrical axis in the sputtering surface (cylindrical surface), three points set at 10 mm intervals on a second straight line obtained by rotating the first straight line by 90°, and three points selected respectively from three areas obtained by dividing, into three, a cross section perpendicular to the cylindrical axis in the thickness direction (in the following Examples, three points set at 1.5 mm intervals on a straight line extending in the thickness direction of a sample having a 5 mm thickness). Then, the Vickers hardness is measured at the above nine measurement points with a 200 gf test force (pressing load). An average value (HV_(av1)) of the Vickers hardness on the first straight line in the sputtering surface, an average value (HV_(av2)) of the Vickers hardness on the second straight line, and an average value (HV_(av3)) of the Vickers hardness in the cross section are determined. The average values (HV_(av1), HV_(av2), and HV_(av3)) of the sputtering surface and cross section are further averaged, and the obtained average value is defined as an average value (HV_(tav)) of the Vickers hardness of the entire cylindrical Au sputtering target.

In the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the ratio (HV_(av1)/HV_(tav)) of the average value (HV_(av1)) of a first Vickers hardness in the sputtering surface to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target, the ratio (HV_(av2)/HV_(tav)) of the average value (HV_(av2)) of a second Vickers hardness in the sputtering surface to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target, and the ratio (HV_(av3)/HV_(tav)) of the average value (HV_(av3)) of the Vickers hardness in the cross section to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target each preferably fall within the range of 0.8 to 1.2. That is, a variation in the Vickers hardness of the Au sputtering target is preferably within ±20%. By reducing the location-dependent variation in the Vickers hardness of the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the flying direction of particles during sputtering is made uniform, which improves the uniformity of the film thickness distribution. The cylindrical Au sputtering target is rotated during sputtering, whereby the entire cylindrical surface is sputtered, so that the reduction in the location-dependent variation in the Vickers hardness of the sputtering surface (cylindrical surface) can improve the uniformity of the film thickness distribution.

The Au sputtering target according to the embodiment preferably has an average crystal grain size of 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less. By performing sputtering using the Au sputtering target having such an average crystal grain size, the film thickness distribution of the Au film can be further improved. When the average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target is less than 15 μm, particles ejected from the target fly non-uniformly during sputtering, which may deteriorate uniformity of the film thickness distribution. The average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target is more preferably 25 μm or more, yet more preferably 30 μm or more, and most preferably 33 μm or more. When the average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target exceeds 200 μm, flying property of particles during sputtering lowers, which may deteriorate uniformity of the film thickness distribution. The average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target is more preferably 150 μm or less, and yet more preferably 100 μm or less.

The average grain size of the Au sputtering target is measured as follows. In the case of the plate-shaped Au sputtering target, the following nine measurement points are set: three points set at 10 mm intervals on a straight line in the sputtering surface, three points selected respectively from three areas obtained by dividing, into three, a first cross section perpendicular to the sputtering surface in the thickness direction (in the following Examples, three points set at 1.5 mm intervals on a straight line extending in the thickness direction of a sample having a 5 mm thickness), and three points selected respectively from three areas obtained by dividing, into three, a second cross section perpendicular to the sputtering surface and the first cross section in the thickness direction (in the following Examples, three points set at 1.5 mm intervals on a straight line extending in the thickness direction of a sample having a 5 mm thickness). Then, an enlarged picture of each measurement point is taken using an optical microscope. The picture is taken at a magnification (e.g., ×50 or ×100) enabling easy measurement of the crystal grain size. Straight lines are drawn horizontally and vertically so as to pass the center of the enlarged picture, and the number of crystal grains cut by each line is counted. The crystal grain at the end of the line is counted as 0.5. The lengths of the respective horizontal and vertical lines are divided by their corresponding number of crystal grains to determine the average grain size for the horizontal line and that for the vertical line. Then, the average value of the determined average grain size values for the horizontal and vertical lines is defined as the average grain size of one sample.

In this manner, an average value (AD_(av1)) of the crystal grain size in the sputtering surface, an average value (AD_(av2)) of the crystal grain size in the first cross section, and an average value (AD_(av3)) of the crystal grain size in the second cross section are determined.

The average values (AD_(av1), AD_(av2), and AD_(av3)) of the crystal grain size in the sputtering surface, first cross section, and second cross section are further averaged, and the obtained average value is defined as an average value (AD_(tav)) of the crystal grain size (the average crystal grain size) of the entire plate-shaped Au sputtering target.

In the plate-shaped Au sputtering target, the ratio (AD_(av1)/AD_(tav)) of the average crystal grain size (AD_(av1)) in the sputtering surface to the average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target, the ratio (AD_(av2)/AD_(tav)) of the average crystal grain size (AD_(av2)) in the first cross section to the average crystal grain size (AD_(t)) of the entire target, and the ratio (AD_(av3)/AD_(tav)) of the average crystal grain size (AD_(av3)) in the second cross section to the average crystal grain size (AD_(t)) of the entire target each preferably fall within the range of 0.8 to 1.2. That is, a variation in the average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target is preferably within ±20%. By thus reducing the location-dependent variation in the average crystal grain size of the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the flying direction of particles during sputtering is made uniform, which improves the uniformity of the film thickness distribution.

In the case of the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the following nine measurement points are set: three points set at 10 mm intervals on a first straight line extending parallel to the cylindrical axis in the sputtering surface (cylindrical surface), three points set at 10 mm intervals on a second straight line obtained by rotating the first straight line by 90°, and three points selected respectively from three areas obtained by dividing, into three, a cross section perpendicular to the cylindrical axis in the thickness direction (in the following Examples, three points set at 1.5 mm intervals on a straight line extending in the thickness direction of a sample having a 5 mm thickness). An average value (AD_(av1)) of the crystal grain size on the first straight line in the sputtering surface, an average value (AD_(av2)) of the crystal grain size on the second straight line, and an average value (AD_(av3)) of the crystal grain size in the cross section are determined. The average values (AD_(av1), AD_(av2), and AD_(av3)) of the sputtering surface and cross section are further averaged, and the obtained average value is defined as an average value (AD_(tav)) of the crystal grain size of the entire cylindrical Au sputtering target.

In the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the ratio (AD_(av1)/AD_(tav)) of the first average crystal grain size (AD_(av1)) in the sputtering surface to the average crystal grain size (AD_(t)) of the entire target, the ratio (AD_(av2)/AD_(tav)) of the second average crystal grain size (AD_(av2)) in the sputtering surface to the average crystal grain size (AD_(t)) of the entire target, and the ratio (AD_(av3)/AD_(tav)) of the average crystal grain size (AD_(av3)) in the cross section to the average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target each preferably fall within the range of 0.8 to 1.2. That is, a variation in the average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target is preferably within ±20%. By thus reducing the location-dependent variation in the average crystal grain size of the cylindrical Au sputtering target, the flying direction of particles during sputtering is made uniform, which improves the uniformity of the film thickness distribution. The cylindrical Au sputtering target is rotated during sputtering, whereby the entire cylindrical surface is sputtered, so that the reduction in the location-dependent variation in the average crystal grain size of the sputtering surface (cylindrical surface) can improve the uniformity of the film thickness distribution.

In the Au sputtering target according to the embodiment, the {110} plane of Au is preferably preferentially oriented to the sputtering surface. Au has a face-centered cubic lattice structure, and the {110} plane is more easily sputtered than other crystal planes constituting the face-centered cubic lattice structure. By preferentially orienting the sputtering surface to the {110} plane, the flying direction of particles during sputtering is stabilized, whereby uniformity of the film thickness distribution can be further improved. The preferential orientation of the sputtering surface to the {110} plane refers to a state where the orientation index N of the {110} plane is larger than 1 and the largest among the orientation indices N of all the crystal planes, where the orientation index N of each crystal plane is calculated according to the following Wilson's equation (1) based on a diffraction intensity ratio of each crystal plane of Au, which is obtained by X-ray diffraction for the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target. The orientation index N of the {110} plane of Au is preferably 1.3 or more.

$\begin{matrix} {N = \left( \frac{\frac{I/I_{({hkl})}}{\sum\left( {I/I_{({hkl})}} \right)}}{\frac{{{JCPDS} \cdot I}/I_{({hkl})}}{\sum\left( {{{JCPDS} \cdot I}/I_{({hkl})}} \right)}} \right)} & (1) \end{matrix}$

In the above equation (1), I/I_((hkl)) is the diffraction intensity ratio of an (hkl) plane in the X-ray diffraction, JCPDS·I/I_((hkl)) is the diffraction intensity ratio of the (hkl) plane in JCPDS (Joint Committee for Powder Diffraction Standard) card, Σ(I/I_((hkl))) is the sum of the diffraction intensity ratios of all the crystal planes in the X-ray diffraction, and Σ(JCPDS·I/I_((hkl))) is the sum of the diffraction intensity ratios of all the crystal planes in JCPDS card.

The Au sputtering target according to the embodiment can significantly improve uniformity of the film thickness distribution of the high-purity Au sputtered film having an Au purity of 99.999% or more owing to a combination of the above-described Vickers hardness of 20 or more and less than 40, average crystal grain size of 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and the sputtering surface to which the {110} plane of Au is preferentially oriented. That is, the individual effects brought about by the above-described Vickers hardness, average crystal grain size, and preferentially oriented surface of Au act synergistically, whereby flying property of Au particles that fly from the Au sputtering target having an Au purity of 99.999% or more during sputtering, uniformity of the Au particles, and stability of the flying direction of the Au particles are improved. Thus, when the high-purity Au sputtered film is used as, for example, an electrode of an electronic device like a quartz oscillator device for which miniaturization is being promoted, it is possible to provide a high-purity Au film featured in that a variation in film thickness and a variation in mass resulting from the film thickness variation are reduced and that uniformity of the film thickness and mass distributions is improved.

A method of producing the above-described Au sputtering target according to the embodiment is not limited. The production method for the Au sputtering target according to the present embodiment preferably includes; a step of preparing a gold ingot having a gold purity of 99.999% or more; a first processing step of processing the gold ingot to form a desired plate-shaped or cylindrical gold billet; a second processing step of processing the gold billet under pressure so as to reduce the plate thickness thereof to form a desired plate-shaped or cylindrical target material; and a heat treatment step of applying heat treatment to the target material.

The production method for the Au sputtering target according to the embodiment will be described in detail. For example, the plate-shaped Au sputtering target may be produced by a production method combining casting, cutting, forging, and heat treatment of an Au raw material. Further, in the production of the plate-shaped Au sputtering target, rolling may be applied in place of forging of an Au raw material. The cylindrical Au sputtering target may be produced by a production method combining casting, cutting, pipe machining, and heat treatment of an Au material. Examples of the pipe machining include extrusion like Raflo extrusion, drawing, and forging. By controlling a processing rate or a heat treatment temperature in each of the processing steps, the above-described Vickers hardness, average crystal grain size, preferential crystal plane, and the like can be achieved.

The casting of the Au raw material is preferably carried out as follows. The Au raw material is melted in a graphite crucible or a ceramic crucible in a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere; alternatively, the Au raw material is melted in a graphite crucible or a ceramic crucible while spraying inert gas to a molten metal surface using an atmospheric melting furnace or while covering a molten metal surface with a carbon-based solid sealing material. Then, the resultant raw material is cast into a graphite mold or a cast iron mold. In the casting step of the Au raw material, the Au purity of an Au ingot is adjusted to 99.999% or more (5N or more). The upper limit of the Au purity of the Au ingot is not limited to a particular value and is set in accordance with a degree of purity required for an Au sputter film to be formed. Typically, the upper limit is set to 99.9999% or less considering a production process of the Au ingot or production cost of an Au sputtering target.

Subsequently, the obtained Au ingot is processed into a gold billet having a desired plate shape or cylindrical shape (first processing step). When the plate-shaped Au sputtering target is to be produced, defects on the outer peripheral surface of, for example, a plate-shaped Au ingot are ground to be removed, whereby a plate-shaped gold billet is obtained. When the cylindrical Au sputtering target is to be produced, defects on the outer peripheral surface of, for example, a cylindrical shaped Au ingot are ground to be removed and is then hollowed out, whereby a cylindrical shaped gold billet is obtained.

Subsequently, the gold billet is processed into a desired plate-shaped or cylindrical target material (second processing step). When the plate-shaped Au sputtering target is to be produced, a plate-shaped Au ingot is forged into a desired plate shape. The Au ingot forging is preferably performed in a hot state at a temperature in the range of 200° C. or more and 800° C. or less and at a processing rate (sectional area reduction or thickness reduction) of 50% or more and 90% or less. The forging may be performed plurality of times, and heat treatment may be applied during the forging. When the forging is performed plurality of times, the total processing rate is adjusted to 50% or more and 90% or less.

By setting the processing rate in the forging to 50% or more, a cast structure is destroyed, and thus a uniform recrystallized structure is easily obtained. In addition, controllability and uniformity of the hardness or crystal grain size in the subsequent heat treatment process can be enhanced. The obtained Au forged material may be subjected to cold rolling as needed. The processing rate in the rolling is preferably 50% or more and 90% or less, although it depends on the processing rate in the forging process. In place of the forging process, the rolling process may be applied as the Au billet processing. As in the forging, the Au billet rolling is preferably performed in a hot state at a temperature in the range of 200° C. or more and 800° C. or less and at a processing rate (sectional area reduction or thickness reduction) of 50% or more and 90% or less.

When the cylindrical Au sputtering target is to be produced, a columnar Au billet is processed into a pipe shape by, for example, extrusion like Raflo extrusion, drawing, or forging. When the Raflo extrusion is applied, it is preferably performed in a cold state. Further, in the Raflo extrusion, the outer diameter and thickness of a pipe to be formed are controlled by the shape (inner diameter, etc.) of a die and the shape (outer diameter, etc.) of a mandrel. At this time, an extrusion ratio (billet outer diameter/pipe outer diameter) is preferably adjusted to 1.5 or more and 3.0 or less. When the extrusion ratio is 1.5 or more, a cast structure is destroyed, and thus a uniform recrystallized structure is easily obtained. In addition, controllability and uniformity of the hardness in the subsequent heat treatment process can be enhanced. However, when the extrusion ratio exceeds 3.0, internal strain becomes too large, and cracks, wrinkles, and other defects are more likely to occur.

When drawing is applied, an Au material pipe produced by the extrusion or hollowing is preferably processed into a desired pipe shape through cold drawing. Further, in the drawing, the outer diameter and thickness of a pipe to be formed are controlled by the shape (inner diameter, etc.) of a die and the shape (outer diameter, etc.) of a plug. At this time, a processing rate per drawing process is preferably adjusted to 2% or more and 5% or less. The drawing is preferably performed plurality of times and, in such a case, the total processing rate is preferably adjusted to 50% or more and 90% or less. When the total processing rate is 50% or more, a cast structure is destroyed, and thus a uniform recrystallized structure is easily obtained. In addition, controllability and uniformity of the hardness in the subsequent heat treatment process can be enhanced. However, when the total processing rate exceeds 90%, internal strain becomes too large, and cracks, wrinkles, and other defects are more likely to occur.

When forging is applied, an Au material pipe produced by the extrusion or hollowing is preferably forged in a hot state at a temperature in the range of 200° C. or more and 800° C. or less into a desired pipe shape. Further, by controlling a processing rate during forging, the outer diameter and thickness of a pipe to be formed are controlled. In the forging, the processing rate is preferably adjusted to 30% or more and 80% or less. When the processing rate is 30% or more, a cast structure is destroyed, and thus a uniform recrystallized structure is easily obtained. In addition, controllability and uniformity of the hardness in the subsequent heat treatment process can be enhanced. The processing rate in the forging is more preferably 50% or more. However, when the processing rate exceeds 80%, internal strain becomes too large, and cracks, wrinkles, and other defects are more likely to occur.

Then, the plate-shaped target material produced through the forging or rolling and the pipe-shaped target material produced through the pipe machining are subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of 200° C. or more and 500° C. or less under an air atmosphere or inert gas atmosphere, for example to recrystallize the metal structure of the target material. Through such heat treatment, an Au sputtering target having a Vickers hardness of 20 or more and less than 40 can be obtained. Further, an Au sputtering target having an average crystal grain size of 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less and/or an Au sputtering target in which the sputtering surface is preferentially oriented to the {110} plane can be obtained. The heat treatment may be performed plurality of times. After the heat treatment, the sputtering target may be shaped as needed by, for example, cutting.

When the heat treatment temperature is less than 200° C., internal strain generated during processing cannot be removed sufficiently, which may increase the Vickers hardness to 40 or more, or which may fail to preferentially orient the sputtering surface to the {110} plane. On the other hand, when the heat treatment temperature exceeds 500° C., a recrystallized structure excessively grows, which may cause the average crystal grain size to exceed 200 μm or cause the sputtering surface to be oriented to a crystal plane other than the {110} plane. The holding time of heat treatment temperature, i.e., heat treatment time is preferably 10 min or more and 120 min or less, for example. An excessively short heat treatment time may fail to achieve sufficient strain removal or sufficient recrystallization of a metal structure. On the other hand, excessively long heat treatment time may result in an excessive reduction in the Vickers hardness or an excessive increase in the average crystal grain size.

As described above, by controlling the processing rate when processing the Au ingot into the plate shape or cylindrical shape and the temperature in the heat treatment for recrystallization, an Au sputtering target having a Vickers hardness of 20 or more and less than 40 and small in variation in the Vickers hardness can be obtained. Further, an Au sputtering target having an average crystal grain size of 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less and small in variation in the average crystal grain size, and/or an Au sputtering target in which the sputtering surface is preferentially oriented to the {110} plane can be obtained. By forming an Au film using such an Au sputtering target, a high-purity Au film achieving a high film thickness distribution uniformity required for an electrode of, for example, a quartz oscillator device can be obtained. The Au sputtering target according to the embodiment can be used for forming not only an electrode film (Au film) of a quartz oscillator device, but also an Au film applied to various electronic components.

EXAMPLES

The following describes specific examples of the present invention and evaluation results thereof.

Example 1

First, an Au mass was put into a graphite crucible and melted. An obtained Au molten was cast into a graphite mold to produce a plate-shaped Au ingot. The surface of the Au ingot was ground, whereby an Au billet (purity: 99.999%) having a width of 190 mm, a length of 270 mm, and a thickness of 50 mm was produced. Subsequently, the Au billet was hot-forged at a temperature of 800° C., whereby an Au target material having a width of 70 mm, a length of 200 mm, and a thickness of 45 mm was obtained. The processing rate in the forging was set to 80% for all three-axis directions. The Au target material after forging was subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of 500° C. for 30 minutes. The Au target material after the heat treatment was ground to produce a circular plate-shaped Au sputtering target having a diameter of 152.4 mm and a thickness of 5 mm. For measurement of characteristics of each portion and measurement of film thickness characteristics, two Au sputtering targets were prepared. In this regard, the same applies to the following Examples and Comparative Examples.

The Vickers hardness of the obtained Au sputtering target was measured according to the above-described measurement method for the plate-shaped sputtering target (apparatus name: mitsutoyo HM123). The Vickers hardness was measured at the above-described measurement points with a 200 gf test force (pressing load). The results were as follows: the average value (HV_(av1)) of the Vickers hardness in the sputtering surface was 25.6, the average value (HV_(av2)) of the Vickers hardness in the first cross section was 33.2, the average value (HV_(av3)) of the Vickers hardness in the second cross section was 33.1, and the average value (Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target) of the HV_(av1), HV_(av2), and HV_(av3) was 30.6. The ratios of the HV_(av1), HV_(av2), and HV_(av3) to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target were 0.84 (HV_(av1)/HV_(tav)), 1.08 (HV_(av2)/HV_(tav)), and 1.08 (HV_(av3)/HV_(tav)), respectively.

Then, the average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target was measured according to the above-described measurement method for the plate-shaped sputtering target. As a result, the average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target was 32.2 μm. Further, the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target was subjected to X-ray diffraction, and the preferentially oriented crystal plane was evaluated according to the above-described method. As a result, preferential orientation of the {110} plane of Au to the sputtering surface was recognized. Further, the orientation index N of the {110} plane according to the above-described method was determined, and the result was 1.52 Such an Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process to be described later, and the characteristics of an Au film to be obtained were evaluated.

Examples 2 to 7, Comparative Examples 1 and 2

An Au billet produced in the same manner as in Example 1 was subjected to forging in the same manner as in Example 1 at a processing rate shown in Table 1 to produce an Au target material. Then, the Au target material after forging was subjected to heat treatment under the conditions shown in Table 1. After that, the Au target material after heat treatment was ground to produce an Au sputtering target having the same shape as that of Example 1. The Vickers hardness, average crystal grain size, preferentially oriented plane of the sputtering surface, and orientation index N of the {110} plane were measured and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1. The measurement results are shown in Table 2. Such an Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process to be described later, and the characteristics of an Au film to be obtained were evaluated. In the Au sputtering target of Comparative Example 1, a crystal grain boundary failed to be clearly identified, so that the average crystal grain size could not be measured (corresponding field in Table 1 is blank (−)).

TABLE 1 Processing Au rate Heat treatment condition purity during forging Temperature Time [%] [%] [° C.] [min] Ex.1 99.999 80 500 30 Ex.2 99.999 80 500 60 Ex.3 99.999 80 500 90 Ex.4 99.999 80 400 30 Ex.5 99.999 80 300 30 Ex.6 99.999 80 400 60 Ex.7 99.999 80 300 60 Comp. Ex.1 99.999 80 100 30 Comp. Ex.2 99.999 80 600 30

TABLE 2 Average crystal grain size Preferential {110} plane Vickers hardness* [μm] crystal orientation HV_(tav) HV_(av1) HV_(av2) HV_(av3) AD_(tav) plane index N Ex. 1 30.6 25.6 (0.84) 33.2 (1.08) 33.1 (1.08)  32.2 {110} 1.52 Ex. 2 26.4 22.6 (0.85) 28.6 (1.08) 28.1 (1.06)  31.2 {110} 1.23 Ex. 3 25.5 20.4 (0.80) 27.6 (1.08) 28.5 (1.12)  33.2 {110} 1.16 Ex. 4 25.7 21.0 (0.85) 28.0 (1.13) 25.2 (1.02)  36.2 {110} 1.25 Ex. 5 27.9 22.5 (0.81) 30.2 (1.08) 30.9 (1.11)  35.6 {110} 1.38 Ex. 6 29.7 24.1 (0.81) 32.6 (1.10) 32.3 (1.09)  35.6 {110} 1.08 Ex. 7 29.5 23.9 (0.81) 31.2 (1.06) 33.5 (1.13)  35.6 {110} 1.03 Comp. Ex. 1 65.5 60.5 (0.92) 67.0 (1.02) 68.9 (1.05) — {110} 5.57 Comp. Ex. 2 28.6 20.6 (0.72) 33.4 (1.17) 31.9 (1.11) 602.9 {100} 0.27 *The values in parentheses each represent a ratio to HV_(tav). The symbol “—” in the field of the average crystal grain size indicates inability to take measurements due to difficulty in identification of the crystal gain boundary.

The Au sputtering targets of Examples 1 to 7 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2 were set in a single wafer sputtering apparatus (apparatus name: ANELVA SPF530H). After vacuum evacuation of the apparatus to 1×10⁻³ Pa or less, sputtering was performed under the following conditions: Ar gas pressure, 0.4 Pa; applied power, DC 100 W; target-substrate distance, 40 mm; and sputtering time, 5 min, whereby Au films were formed on 6-inch Si substrates (wafers), respectively. The film thickness distribution of each of the obtained Au films was evaluated as follows. The substrate on which the Au film had been formed was set in an X-ray fluorescence thickness meter, and the film thickness of the Au film was measured under the following conditions: measurement time, 60 sec; the number of repetitive measurements, 10; measurement start point, substrate end portion; and measurement point interval, 5 mm. Four measurement axes were set for the film thickness measurement: two horizontal and vertical axes passing the center of the substrate and two horizontal and vertical axes passing the center of the substrate rotated by 45° from the original position. After the measurement, 10-point average film thickness was determined at each measurement point. Then, the standard deviation of the measurement values obtained at the same measurement positions on each of the four axes was determined, and an average value of the standard deviations of measurement values at all the measurement points was determined. The results are shown in Table 3 as a standard deviation σ of the film thickness. Then, the resistance value of the Au film was measured by a four probe method, and a standard deviation σ of the resistance value was determined as in the case of the film thickness. The results are shown in Table 3 as the standard deviation σ of the resistance value.

TABLE 3 Film formation evaluation result Standard deviation σ Standard deviation σ of film thickness of resistance value Ex.1 8.5 5.2 Ex.2 7.9 5.8 Ex.3 8.8 4.9 Ex.4 8.1 5.9 Ex.5 7.5 5.5 Ex.6 7.6 5.8 Ex.7 7.8 6.1 Comp. Ex.1 16.2 12.2 Comp. Ex.2 21.3 23.1

Table 2 and Table 3 reveal that, in the Au sputtering targets of Examples 1 to 7, the Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, and the location-dependent variation in the Vickers hardness is small. Further, the average crystal grain size is 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, the {110} plane is preferentially oriented to the sputtering surface, and the orientation index N of the {110} plane is larger than 1. An Au film formed by sputtering using the Au sputtering target having the above Vickers hardness, average crystal grain size, and preferentially oriented plane of the sputtering surface is excellent in uniformity of the film thickness distribution and in uniformity of the resistance value.

Examples 8 to 12

An Au billet produced in the same manner as in Example 1 was subjected to forging in the same manner as in Example 1 at a processing rate shown in Table 4 to produce an Au target material. Then, the Au target material after forging was subjected to heat treatment under the conditions shown in Table 4. After that, the Au target material after heat treatment was ground to produce an Au sputtering target having the same shape as that of Example 1.

TABLE 4 Processing Au rate Heat treatment condition purity during forging Temperature Time [%] [%] [° C.] [min] Ex.8 99.999 80 500 20 Ex.9 99.999 80 500 30 Ex.10 99.999 80 500 120 Ex.11 99.999 80 400 20 Ex.12 99.999 80 300 20

The Vickers hardness of the obtained Au sputtering target was measured in the same manner as in Example 1. Further, the average crystal grain size of the obtained Au sputtering target was measured according to the above-described measurement method for the plate-shaped sputtering target. As the measurement results, the average crystal grains sizes (AD_(av1), AD_(av2), AD_(av3)) in the sputtering surface, first cross section, and second cross section, the average value (average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target) of the above average crystal grain sizes, and ratios of the respective AD_(av1), AD_(av2), AD_(av3) to the AD_(tav) are shown in Table 5. Further, the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target was subjected to X-ray diffraction, and the preferentially oriented crystal plane was evaluated according to the above-described method. Further, the orientation index N of the {110} plane was determined according to the above-described method. The results are shown in Table 5. Such an Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process in the same manner as in Example 1, and the standard deviation σ of the film thickness of an Au film to be obtained and the standard deviation σ of the resistance value of the Au film were determined. The results are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 5 Average crystal Vickers grain size* Preferential {110} plane hardness [μm] crystal orientation HV_(tav) AD_(tav) AD_(av1) AD_(av2) AD_(av3) plane index N Ex. 8 28.0  31.2  30.2 (0.97)  32.1 (1.03)  31.2 (1.00) {110} 1.47 Ex. 9 26.3  33.5  33.2 (0.99)  34.1 (1.02)  33.1 (0.99) {110} 1.32 Ex. 10 26.2  33.5  33.5 (1.00)  34.6 (1.03)  32.4 (0.97) {110} 1.21 Ex. 11 28.1  31.6  30.8 (0.97)  32.6 (1.03)  31.5 (1.00) {110} 1.28 Ex. 12 28.0  32.2  32.8 (1.02)  31.5 (0.98)  32.4 (1.01) {110} 1.22 Comp. Ex. 1 65.5 — — — — {110} 5.57 Comp. Ex. 2 28.6 605.1 605.1 (1.00) 601.2 (0.99) 608.9 (1.01) {100} 0.27 *The values in parentheses each represent a ratio to AD_(tav). The symbol “—” in the field of the average crystal grain size indicates inability to take measurements due to difficulty in identification of the crystal gain boundary.

TABLE 6 Film formation evaluation result Standard deviation σ Standard deviation σ of film thickness of resistance value Ex.8 8.1 5.9 Ex.9 7.3 5.2 Ex.10 8.5 4.2 Ex.11 8.6 6.0 Ex.12 8.0 5.1 Comp. Ex.1 17.1 12.5 Comp. Ex.2 20.3 22.9

Examples 13 to 21, Comparative Examples 3 and 4

First, an Au mass was put into a graphite crucible and melted. An obtained Au molten was cast into a graphite mold to produce an Au ingot. The surface of the Au ingot was ground to be removed, whereby an Au billet (purity: 99.999%) having a width of 200 mm, a length of 300 mm, and a thickness of 45 mm was produced. Subsequently, the Au billet was hot-rolled at a temperature of 800° C., whereby an Au target material having a width of 70 mm, a length of 200 mm, and a thickness of 45 mm was obtained. The processing rate in the rolling was set to 80% as a thickness reduction. The Au target material after rolling was subjected to heat treatment under the conditions shown in Table 7. The Au target material after the heat treatment was ground to produce a circular plate-shaped Au sputtering target having a diameter of 152. 4 mm and a thickness of 5 mm.

TABLE 7 Processing Au rate Heat treatment condition purity during rolling Temperature Time [%] [%] [° C.] [min] Ex.13 99.999 80 500 20 Ex.14 99.999 80 500 30 Ex.15 99.999 80 500 60 Ex.16 99.999 80 500 90 Ex.17 99.999 80 500 120 Ex.18 99.999 80 400 20 Ex.19 99.999 80 400 30 Ex.20 99.999 80 300 20 Ex.21 99.999 80 300 30 Comp. Ex.3 99.999 80 100 30 Comp. Ex.4 99.999 80 600 30

The obtained Au sputtering target was measured to determine the average value (HV_(tav)) of the Vickers hardness of the entire target and the average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target in the same manner as in Example 1. Further, the crystal plane preferentially oriented to the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1, and orientation index N of the {110} plane was determined in the same manner as in Example 1. The results are shown in Table 8. Such an Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process in the same manner as in Example 1, and the standard deviation σ of the film thickness of an Au film to be obtained and standard deviation σ of the resistance value of the Au film were determined. The results are shown in Table 9.

TABLE 8 Average crystal {110} Vickers grain size Preferential plane hardness [μm] crystal orientation HV_(tav) AD_(tav) plane index N Ex.13 30.1 35.2 {110} 1.21 Ex.14 29.6 36.1 {110} 1.32 Ex.15 31.2 35.8 {110} 1.43 Ex.16 32.2 33.2 {110} 1.32 Ex.17 29.5 34.8 {110} 1.12 Ex.18 29.8 36.7 {110} 1.23 Ex.19 30.3 34.2 {110} 1.17 Ex.20 30.8 34.6 {110} 1.28 Ex.21 32.1 33.1 {110} 1.24 Comp. Ex.3 60.2 — — — Comp. Ex.4 25.1 608.1 — —

TABLE 9 Film formation evaluation result Standard deviation σ Standard deviation σ of film thickness of resistance value Ex.13 8.3 6.1 Ex.14 8.0 5.4 Ex.15 7.6 4.6 Ex.16 7.1 6.1 Ex.17 8.3 6.9 Ex.18 8.9 6.2 Ex.19 8.1 5.6 Ex.20 7.2 6.3 Ex.21 7.8 5.4 Comp. Ex.3 13.6 11.3 Comp. Ex.4 23.1 19.8

Example 22

First, an Au mass was put into a graphite crucible and melted. An obtained Au molten was cast into a graphite mold to produce a columnar Au ingot. The surface of the Au ingot was ground to be removed and hollowed out with a diameter of 50 mm, whereby a cylindrical Au billet (purity: 99.999%) having an outer diameter of 100 mm, an inner diameter of 50 mm, and a length of 200 mm was produced. Subsequently, the cylindrical Au billet was hot-forged at a temperature of 800° C. with a core material inserted into the hollow portion thereof, whereby a pipe shaped Au target material having an outer diameter of 80 mm, an inner diameter of 50 mm, and a length of 400 mm or more was obtained. The processing rate in the forging was set to 35% as a thickness reduction. The pipe-shaped Au target material after forging was subjected to heat treatment at a temperature of 500° C. for 30 minutes. The Au target material after heat treatment was ground to produce a cylindrical Au sputtering target having an outer diameter of 70 mm, an inner diameter of 65 mm, and a length of 350 mm.

The Vickers hardness of the obtained Au sputtering target was measured according to the above-described measurement method for the cylindrical sputtering target. The Vickers hardness was measured at the measurement points with a 200 gf test force (pressing load). The results were as follows: the average value (HV_(av1)) of the Vickers hardness on the first straight line in the sputtering surface was 24.0, the average value (HV_(av2)) of the Vickers hardness on the second straight line in the sputtering surface was 31.2, the average value (HV_(av3)) of the Vickers hardness in the cross section was 33.6, and the average value (Vickers hardness HV_(tav) of the entire target) of the HV_(av1), HV_(av2), and HV_(av3) was 29.6. The ratios of the HV_(av1), HV_(av2), and HV_(av3) to the Vickers hardness (HV_(tav)) of the entire target were 0.81 (HV_(av1)/HV_(tav)), 1.05 (HV_(av2)/HV_(tav)), and 1.14 (HV_(av3)/HV_(tav)), respectively.

Then, the average crystal grain size of the Au sputtering target was measured according to the above-described measurement method for the cylindrical sputtering target. As a result, the average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target was 36.3 μm. Further, the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target was subjected to X-ray diffraction, and the preferentially oriented crystal plane was evaluated according to the above-described method. As a result, preferential orientation of the {110} plane of Au to the sputtering surface was recognized. Then, the orientation index N of the {110} plane according to the above-described method was determined, and the result was 1.28. Such a cylindrical Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process to be described later, and the characteristics of an Au film to be obtained were evaluated.

Examples 23 to 28, Comparative Examples 5 and 6

An Au billet produced in the same manner as in Example 22 was subjected to forging in the same manner as in Example 22 at a processing rate shown in Table 10 to produce an Au target material. Then, the Au target material after forging was subjected to heat treatment under the conditions shown in Table 10. After that, the Au target material after heat treatment was ground to produce an Au sputtering target having the same shape as that of Example 22. The Vickers hardness and average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the Au sputtering target were measured in the same manner as in Example 22. Further, the crystal plane preferentially oriented to the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target was evaluated in the same manner as in Example 22, and orientation index N of the {110} plane was determined in the same manner as in Example 22. The results are shown in Table 11. Such a cylindrical Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process to be described later, and the characteristics of an Au film to be obtained were evaluated.

TABLE 10 Processing Au rate Heat treatment condition purity during forging Temperature Time [%] [%] [° C.] [min] Ex.22 99.999 35 500 30 Ex.23 99.999 35 500 60 Ex.24 99.999 35 500 90 Ex.25 99.999 35 400 30 Ex.26 99.999 35 300 30 Ex.27 99.999 35 400 60 Ex.28 99.999 35 300 60 Comp. Ex.5 99.999 35 100 30 Comp. Ex.6 99.999 35 600 30

TABLE 11 Average crystal grain size Preferential {110} plane Vickers hardness* [μm] crystal orientation HV_(tav) HV_(av1) HV_(av2) HV_(av3) AD_(tav) plane index N Ex. 22 29.6 24.0 (0.81) 31.2 (1.05) 33.6 (1.14)  36.3 {110} 1.28 Ex. 23 29.8 23.8 (0.80) 32.6 (1.09) 33.1 (1.11)  35.1 {110} 1.18 Ex. 24 29.3 24.1 (0.82) 31.5 (1.08) 32.3 (1.10)  33.2 {110} 1.20 Ex. 25 29.5 23.6 (0.80) 33.2 (1.13) 31.6 (1.07)  32.6 {110} 1.35 Ex. 26 29.5 21.2 (0.82) 32.6 (1.11) 31.6 (1.07)  35.6 {110} 1.23 Ex. 27 29.6 24.0 (0.81) 33.1 (1.12) 31.6 (1.07)  34.2 {110} 1.13 Ex. 28 30.0 23.9 (0.80) 32.5 (1.08) 33.6 (1.12)  33.8 {110} 1.05 Comp. Ex. 5 65.2 61.8 (0.95) 68.2 (1.05) 65.6 (1.01) — {110} 4.23 Comp. Ex. 6 27.5 21.9 (0.80) 29.8 (1.08) 30.8 (1.12) 605.3 {100} 0.35 *The values in parentheses each represent a ratio to HV_(tav). The symbol “—” in the field of the average crystal grain size indicates inability to take measurements due to difficulty in identification of the crystal gain boundary.

The Au sputtering targets of Examples 22 to 28 and Comparative Examples 5 and 6 were set in a single cylindrical sputtering apparatus. After vacuum evacuation of the apparatus to 1×10⁻³ Pa or less, sputtering was performed under the following conditions: Ar gas pressure, 0.4 Pa; applied power, DC 100 W; target-substrate distance, 40 mm; and sputtering time, 5 min, whereby Au films were formed on 6-inch Si substrates (wafers), respectively. The film thickness distribution of each of the obtained Au films was measured according to the above-described method to determine the standard deviation σ of the film thickness of an Au film to be obtained. Further, the standard deviation σ of the resistance value of the Au film was determined according to the above-described method. The results are shown in Table 12.

TABLE 12 Film formation evaluation result Standard deviation σ Standard deviation σ of film thickness of resistance value Ex.22 8.1 5.2 Ex.23 8.2 5.9 Ex.24 7.6 4.9 Ex.25 8.8 5.8 Ex.26 8.2 5.7 Ex.27 8.1 6.1 Ex.28 8.5 5.9 Comp. Ex.5 15.6 11.9 Comp. Ex.6 23.2 21.9

Table 11 and Table 12 reveal that, in the Au sputtering targets of Examples 22 to 24, the Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, and the location-dependent variation in the Vickers hardness is small. Further, the average crystal grain size is 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, the {110} plane is preferentially oriented to the sputtering surface, and the orientation index N of the {110} plane is larger than 1. An Au film formed by sputtering using the Au sputtering target having the above Vickers hardness, average crystal grain size, and preferentially oriented plane of the sputtering surface is excellent in uniformity of the film thickness distribution and in uniformity of the resistance value.

Examples 29 to 33

An Au billet produced in the same manner as in Example 22 was subjected to forging in the same manner as in Example 22 at a processing rate shown in Table 13 to produce a cylindrical Au target material. Then, the Au target material after the forging was subjected to heat treatment under the conditions shown in Table 13. After that, the Au target material after heat treatment was ground to produce an Au sputtering target having the same shape as that of Example 22.

TABLE 13 Processing Au rate Heat treatment condition purity during forging Temperature Time [%] [%] [° C.] [min] Ex.29 99.999 35 500 20 Ex.30 99.999 35 500 30 Ex.31 99.999 35 500 120 Ex.32 99.999 35 400 20 Ex.33 99.999 35 300 20

The Vickers hardness of the obtained Au sputtering target was measured in the same manner as in Example 22. Further, the average crystal grain size of the obtained Au sputtering target was measured according to the above-described measurement method for the cylindrical sputtering target. As the measurement results, the average crystal grains sizes (AD_(av1), AD_(av2), AD_(av3)) in the first sputtering surface, second sputtering surface, and cross section, the average value (average crystal grain size (AD_(tav)) of the entire target) of the above average crystal grain sizes, and ratios of the respective AD_(av1), AD_(av2), AD_(av3) to the AD_(tav) are shown in Table 14. Further, the sputtering surface of the Au sputtering target was subjected to X-ray diffraction, and the preferentially oriented crystal plane was evaluated according to the above-described method. Further, the orientation index N of the {110} plane was determined. The results are shown in Table 14. Such an Au sputtering target was subjected to a film formation process in the same manner as in Example 22, and the standard deviation σ of the film thickness of an Au film to be obtained and standard deviation σ of the resistance value of the Au film were determined. The results are shown in Table 15.

TABLE 14 Average crystal Vickers grain size* Preferential {110} plane hardness [μm] crystal orientation HV_(tav) AD_(tav) AD_(av1) AD_(av2) AD_(av3) plane index N Ex. 29 29.6  34.0  36.3 (1.07)  32.6 (0.96)  33.1 (0.97) {110} 1.25 Ex. 30 31.6  33.6  32.9 (0.98)  33.8 (1.01)  34.1 (1.01) {110} 1.27 Ex. 31 30.1  34.1  31.9 (0.94)  33.8 (0.99)  36.5 (1.07) {110} 1.12 Ex. 32 29.8  32.9  32.8 (1.00)  33.1 (1.01)  32.9 (1.00) {110} 1.31 Ex. 33 30.9  32.1  32.1 (1.00)  30.6 (0.95)  33.6 (1.05) {110} 1.18 Comp. Ex. 5 65.2 — — — — {110} 4.23 Comp. Ex. 6 29.1 603.9 601.9 (1.00) 610.0 (1.01) 599.9 (0.99) {100} 0.35 *The values in parentheses each represent a ratio to AD_(tav). The symbol “—” in the field of the average crystal grain size indicates inability to take measurements due to difficulty in identification of the crystal gain boundary.

TABLE 15 Film formation evaluation result Standard deviation σ Standard deviation σ of film thickness of resistance value Ex.29 8.3 5.6 Ex.30 7.9 5.1 Ex.31 7.6 5.3 Ex.32 7.9 4.7 Ex.33 8.9 5.2 Comp. Ex.5 14.2 11.9 Comp. Ex.6 21.3 20.9 

What is claimed is:
 1. A production method for a gold sputtering target, comprising: preparing a gold ingot having a gold purity of 99.999% or more, processing the gold ingot to form a gold billet, and producing a gold sputtering target having a gold purity of 99.999% or more from the gold billet, in which an average value of Vickers hardness is 20 or more and less than 40, an average crystal grain size is 15 μm or more and 200 μm or less, and a plane of gold is preferentially oriented to a surface to be sputtered of the gold sputtering target and wherein the surface to be sputtered is subjected to X-ray diffraction, and an orientation index N of crystal planes of gold are determined according to the following equation (1) based on a diffraction intensity ratio of each of the crystal planes of gold, the orientation index N of the plane of gold is larger than 1 and the largest among the orientation indices N of all the crystal planes: $\begin{matrix} {N = \left( \frac{\frac{I/I_{({hkl})}}{\sum\left( {I/I_{({hkl})}} \right)}}{\frac{{{JCPDS} \cdot I}/I_{({hkl})}}{\sum\left( {{{JCPDS} \cdot I}/I_{({hkl})}} \right)}} \right)} & (1) \end{matrix}$ where I/I_((hkl)) is the diffraction intensity ratio of an (hkl) plane in the X-ray diffraction, JCPDS·I/I_((hkl)) is the diffraction intensity ratio of the (hkl) plane in JCPDS card for gold, Σ(I/I_((hkl))) is the sum of the diffraction intensity ratios of all the crystal planes in the X-ray diffraction, and Σ(JCPDS·I/I_((hkl))) is the sum of the diffraction intensity ratios of all the crystal planes provided on the JCPDS card for gold.
 2. The production method according to claim 1, wherein: processing the gold ingot to form the gold billet comprises forming the gold billet into a plate shaped gold billet or a cylindrical gold billet; processing the plate shaped gold billet under pressure so as to reduce the plate thickness thereof to form a plate-shaped target material or processing the cylindrical gold billet into a pipe shape to form a cylindrical target material; and applying heat treatment to the plate shaped target material or cylindrical target material.
 3. The production method according to claim 1, wherein: processing the gold ingot to form the gold billet comprises forming the gold billet into a plate-shaped gold billet; applying hot forging or hot rolling to the plate-shaped gold billet at a temperature of 200° C. or more and 800° C. or less or cold rolling to the plate-shaped gold billet at a processing rate of 50% or more and 90% or less to obtain a plate-shaped target material; and applying heat treatment to the plate-shaped target material at a temperature of 200° C. or more and 500° C. or less with a temperature holding time of 10 min or more and 120 min or less.
 4. The production method according to claim 1, wherein: processing the gold ingot to form the gold billet comprises forming the gold billet into a cylindrical gold billet; applying cold extrusion to the cylindrical gold billet with an extrusion ratio of 1.5 or more and 3.0 or less, applying cold drawing to the cylindrical gold billet a plurality of times at a processing rate of 2% or more and 5% or less per drawing process, or applying hot forging to the cylindrical gold billet at a temperature of 200° C. or more and 800° C. or less and at a processing rate of 30% or more and 80% or less, to form a cylindrical target material; and applying heat treatment to the cylindrical target material at a temperature of 200° C. or more and 500° C. or less with a temperature holding time of 10 min or more and 120 min or less. 